Rathcroghan in the context of "Royal sites of Ireland"

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👉 Rathcroghan in the context of Royal sites of Ireland

The royal sites of Ireland were the seats of the Gaelic kings of Ireland. Medieval sources describe them as the ceremonial capitals of various Irish kingdoms, where kingly inaugurations, assemblies and athletic games were held. Archaeological investigations show that many royal sites were culturally significant for thousands of years before recorded history, and they often include ancient monuments such as Neolithic burial mounds, standing stones, cairns and enclosures.

Each Irish kingdom is thought to have had its own royal site, but six sites are considered to be the most important. These are Tara (Irish: Teamhair), seat of the Kings of Meath and the High King, along with the provincial capitals: Navan Fort (Eamhain Macha) for Ulster; Rathcroghan (Cruachan) for Connacht; Knockaulin (DĂșn Ailinne) for Leinster; and Cashel (Caiseal) for Munster. Uisneach represented the union of the provinces and may have served as a meeting place for the kings. These major sites, excluding Navan Fort (in Northern Ireland), have been listed as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Rathcroghan in the context of Medb

Medb (Old Irish: [mÊČeðÎČ]), later spelled Meadhbh (Middle Irish: [mÊČɛɣÎČ]), MĂ©abh(a) (Irish: [ˈmÊČeːw(ə)]) and MĂ©ibh (Irish: [mÊČeːvÊČ]), and often anglicised as Maeve (/meÉȘv/ MAYV), is queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Her husband in the core stories of the cycle is Ailill mac MĂĄta, although she had several husbands before him who were also kings of Connacht. She rules from Cruachan (now Rathcroghan, County Roscommon). She is the enemy (and former wife) of Conchobar mac Nessa, king of Ulster, and is best known for starting the TĂĄin BĂł CĂșailnge ("The Cattle Raid of Cooley") to steal Ulster's prize stud bull Donn CĂșailnge.

Medb is strong-willed, ambitious, cunning and promiscuous, and is an archetypal warrior queen. She is believed by some to be a manifestation of the sovereignty goddess. Medb of Connacht is probably identical with Medb Lethderg, the sovereignty goddess of Tara.

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Rathcroghan in the context of Cruachan (band)

Cruachan (pronounced [ˈkÉŸË uəxənÌȘË ]; named after the archaeological site of Rathcroghan, also known as Cruachan) are an Irish folk metal band from Dublin that have been active since the 1990s. They are recognised as one of the founders of folk metal, and have been acclaimed as having "gone the greatest lengths of anyone in their attempts to expand" the genre. With a specific focus on Celtic music and the use of Celtic mythology in their lyrics, Cruachan's style of folk metal is called Celtic metal.

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Rathcroghan in the context of Connachta

The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King Conn CĂ©tchathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles). The modern western province of Connacht (Irish CĂșige Chonnacht, province, literally "fifth", of the Connachta) takes its name from them, although the territories of the Connachta also included at various times parts of southern and western Ulster and northern Leinster. Their traditional capital was Cruachan (modern Rathcroghan, County Roscommon).

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